Leader's appreciating message came after the Iranian nation took part in the ceremony of 270 martyrs of the Sacred Defense (1980-88 Iran-Iraq war), including 175 divers buried alive with their hands tied.
The message reads:
In the name of Allah, All-Compassionate, All-Merciful
May God’s Blessings and Greetings go to dear martyrs who devoted their lives to turn the light of monotheism over the Islamic country and may Blessings and Felicities of God be granted to oppressed martyred divers who contributed to this eternal light with their reappearance and return and raised the flag of endeared, valuable memories and spiritual hoards of the nation in highest glorious ways.
Salutations to your tied hands and oppressed bodies and greetings to your pure souls who are welcomed to Divine Heavens. Greetings to you who once more scented the life and quenched the thirst of the living.
And ceaseless praise to All-Wise, All-Merciful Lord who grants this Ummah, who believes in and pursues God, with undoubtable glad tidings in the very time of need and dusts their hearts.
And salutations to you, the great, faithful, insightful and responsible nation who truly recognize delicate Divine call and receive it and respond to it.
Your senseful participation in the funeral of these pearls who have returned home marked one of the most memorable events in history of the Revolution. God blessings to you.
And boundless praise to God who rules hearts and ceaseless greetings to Imam of the Time Baghiat Allah (AJ) who is the true owner of this precious treasure.
Greetings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings
Seyyed Ali Khamenei
16 June 2015
The bodies of 270 martyrs, including 175 martyred divers who were killed by the forces of the Saddam’s Ba’ath regime during Operation Karbala-4 with their hands tied, were brought to the country through Shalamcheh border crossing in Khuzestan Province.
The facts on the divers being buried alive or being killed with their hands tied provoked a wave of hatred for the crimes of the Saddam's Ba’ath regime in Iraq making Iranians to share posts and pictures of the divers on social networks, touching off a wave of sympathy on Iranian social media.
Their sacred bodies were carried on the shoulders of tens of thousands of people in a funeral procession in the capital city on Tuesday.